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Aaron Samuel Tamares

The first English-language translation of the Hebrew essays and sermons of Rabbi Aaron Samuel Tamares (1869-1931). An Orthodox rabbi, he served as a delegate to the Fourth World Zionist Congress in 1900, after which renounced nationalism and embraced pacifism as a central Jewish teaching. Readers may not always agree with him, but they will respect his deep, thoughtful insights.

This volume also includes a translation of a lengthy Yiddish-language autobiographical essay Rabbi Tamares wrote toward the end of his life. The essay was translated by Ri J. Turner. Tzemah Yoreh also contributed to the translations in this volume.

Rabbi Everett Gendler has been bringing Rabbi Tamares to the attention of English readers for more than 50 years. A trailblazing environmentalist, peace activist, and unwavering proponent of social justice, He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1957. Rabbi Gendler led congregations throughout Latin America before serving Jewish communities in New Jersey and Massachusetts. He served as the first Jewish chaplain at Phillips Academy Andover. He was recently awarded the Presidents' Medallion from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion "in recognition of a lifetime commitment to social justice and environmentalism."

A collection of Rabbi Gendler's writings was published in 2015 as Judaism for Universalists.

Ben Yehuda Press

Jewish Arguments

A Passionate Pacifist: Essential Writings of Aaron Samuel Tamares

Everett Gendler

Ri J. Turner

Tzemah Yoreh

John L. Rosove

Presented in the form of letters from a rabbi to his sons, Why Israel (and its Future) Matters argues that young Jews need Israel as a source of pride, connection, and Jewish renewal, and Israel needs them for the liberal values that they can bring to the Zionist enterprise.

Exploring the roots and the occasionally antisemitic branches of the campaign against Israel, Rabbi Rosove demonstrates why it’s wrong to characterize Israel as an “oppressor state” and damn it with blanket condemnations.

A 15-page appendix features a timeline/mini-history of Zionism and Israel from the 19th century through October 2023.

“A must-read!”
—Isaac Herzog, President of Israel

“This thoughtful and passionate book reminds us that commitment to Israel and to social justice are essential components of a healthy Jewish identity.”
—Yossi Klein Halevi, author, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor

“In its call for ‘aspirational Zionism,’ the book is honest and tough about Israel’s flaws, but optimistic about the country’s direction and filled with practical strategies for promoting change. This is a no-nonsense, straight-talking work, intellectually rigorous but deeply personal.”
—Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President Emeritus, Union for Reform Judaism

“A moving love letter to Israel from a rabbinic leader who refuses to give into despair, but instead recommits to building a democratic Israel that lives up to the vision of its founders.”
—Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

“Rabbi Rosove grapples with modern Israel, Jewish identity, relations between Israelis and Diaspora Jews, and perhaps most significantly whether ‘you can maintain your ethical and moral values while at the same time being supporters of the Jewish state despite its flaws and imperfections.’ It is a book that many of us wish we had written for our own children.”
—Daniel Kurtzer, Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt (1997-2001) and to Israel (2001-2005)

Why Israel (and its Future) Matters: Letters of a Liberal Rabbi to the Next Generation